Throwing the Flag On NFL Olympic Participation

The Flag Football World Championships concluded over the weekend in Germany, and the first two teams joining the U.S. in the 2028 Olympic tournament have been determined.  On the men's side, it's Canada and Italy who've qualified, while the women's teams from Canada and Mexico also clinched their spots.  That doesn't exactly scream "geographic diversity," but I digress.  The sport's Olympic debut will also feature some non-North American teams, as well, although those final three participants won't be known until a few weeks before the Games.

Ever since it was announced that flag football had been added as an optional sport for LA, the speculation has been about whether NFL players will participate.  The Olympics are during NFL training camps (which is not a coincidence), so the timing could theoretically work out.  There are several active NFL players who've expressed interest, too.  And Roger Goodell also seems to be on board with the idea.  The commissioner being OK with it doesn't make the idea good, though.

It's obvious why Olympic organizers want NFL players in the flag football tournament.  It's the same reason why they want MLB players in the baseball tournament.  They're the best players in the world and would put those Olympic tournaments on the same level as basketball and hockey (and, to a lesser extent, women's soccer).  They'd also be a bigger draw both in terms of TV ratings and ticket sales than random people the average Olympic-watching fan has never heard of.

I'm fully on board with NHL, NBA and WNBA players representing their countries in the Olympics.  So, you'd think I'd be on board with MLB and NFL players getting that opportunity, too.  With MLB, I'm lukewarm to the idea.  I don't totally hate it.  But I'm also not sure how it would work without seriously disrupting the season, which is why I'm more of a "No."  With flag football, however, I'm a hard "No" on NFL guys and that's not changing.

"Why," you might ask?  Well, first and foremost, flag football and tackle football aren't the same sport.  Are they similar?  Of course!  But they're not interchangeable, and you can't act as if they are.  (Are baseball and football the same sport?)  It's really kind of an insult to the sport of flag football to even suggest that you can just go back and forth like that.  (Although, yes, I absolutely acknowledge the exceptional skill level required to play both regular and flag football.)

My biggest reason for being opposed, though, is that it would be a slap in the face to those who actually play football year-round.  These are the players who've put in their blood, sweat and tears into their sport, which has finally earned Olympic recognition (potentially only for this one Olympics).  Only to have their opportunity potentially taken away because millionaire NFL players have decided they want to go.  You put in all the work, made a career in the sport, only to get cast aside at the last minute for someone who doesn't even really play the sport.  How is that at all right or fair?

Let's not kid ourselves, either.  The only reason the NFL players even care is because (A) it's the Olympics and (B) it's in LA.  It's selfish.  Plain and simple.  Do I blame them for wanting to take this Olympic opportunity and run with it?  No.  But does that mean I think it's right for them to take that opportunity from somebody who was actually responsible for getting flag football to this point?  Also no.

There's another big difference between flag football and sports like basketball or hockey or even baseball.  Flag football has an actual full-time U.S. National Tema that competes year-round.  It's similar to rugby sevens in that way.  Basketball and hockey don't have a full-time National Team.  The roster (and sometimes even the coaching staff) changes every tournament based on players' interest and availability.  And, since those rosters are much more flexible, it's not nearly as disruptive to bring in NHL, NBA or WNBA players.

Another reason why I have a problem with this is because only one nation stands to benefit.  The Olympic hockey and basketball tournaments feature NHL, NBA and WNBA players on practically every roster.  So, every team is made better and it enhances the competition.  Even in baseball, should Major Leaguers play, it'll be a mini-World Baseball Classic.  They'll be on all six rosters.  That wouldn't be the case in flag football, though.  NFL players would be crashing the roster of one team and one team only.  They'd essentially be ringers brought in specifically to help the U.S. win (because I guess the team that just won the World Championship and lost an international game for the first time in a decade during group play at Worlds isn't good enough to do that themselves).

Should it happen, it wouldn't be the first time we've seen something like this.  The U.S. women's 3x3 basketball team featured WNBA players in both Tokyo and Paris.  It wouldn't be a shock to see that happen again at the LA Games.  Meanwhile, WNBA players participate in NO international 3x3 tournaments outside the Olympics.  And, much like flag football and football, 5x5 basketball and 3x3 basketball aren't the same thing!

NBA players, however, don't participate in the men's 3x3 tournament at the Olympics.  They exclusively play 5x5.  The U.S. men's 3x3 team is made up of players (some of whom used to be in the NBA) who play 3x3 all year.  So, why does the United States use WNBA players in women's 3x3, but not use NBA players in men's 3x3?  (Although, some of the women at least do play 3x3 part of the year in Unrivaled.)  It seems to me it should be both or neither.  Frankly, I think it should be neither.  For the same reasons I don't think NFL players should be in the Olympic flag tournament.

Then there's the training camp factor, which may not end up being that significant, but needs to be mentioned nonetheless.  Flag football will take place during the first week of the Olympics, with the gold medal game on July 21.  That was obviously done on purpose so that the Olympic tournament will be over before teams start training camp.  And the owners have already passed a resolution allowing one player from each team to compete.  So, they appear to be all-in, as well.

But, and here's my last point on this, what's in it for them (the NFL owners)?  In hockey, the benefit is clear, and the owners were still resistant against the Olympics.  For the NBA and WNBA, there's also an obvious benefit.  And MLB clearly wants to ride the momentum of the World Baseball Classic, so it's understandable why they aren't opposed to seeing their players in LA.  What would NFL owners get out of it, though?  These NFL guys wouldn't continue playing flag football, and they wouldn't be promoting those players who actually do.  So, what does either side get out of it other than the name recognition of two of the biggest brands in global sports (the NFL and the Olympics)?

Playing in the Olympics is the pinnacle of their career for so many athletes.  For those who play flag football, LA 28 might be the one and only Olympics where they get that opportunity.  It shouldn't be taken away from them.  Certainly not by NFL guys who aren't trying to grow the sport.  They only see that shiny gold medal and want it.  Which isn't a good enough reason to tell actual flag football players that they need to give up their Olympic dream just so an NFL player can take his place.